Functional Nanomaterials in Biomedicine: Current Uses and Potential Applications

Abstract

Nanomaterials, that is, materials made up of individual units between 1 and 100 nanometers, have lately involved a lot of attention since they offer a lot of potential in many fields, including pharmacy and biomedicine, owed to their exceptional physicochemical properties arising from their high surface area and nanoscale size. Smart engineering of nanostructures through appropriate surface or bulk functionalization endows them with multifunctional capabilities, opening up new possibilities in the biomedical field such as biosensing, drug delivery, imaging, medical implants, cancer treatment and tissue engineering. This article highlights up-to-date research in nanomaterials functionalization for biomedical applications. A summary of the different types of nanomaterials and the surface functionalization strategies is provided. Besides, the use of nanomaterials in diagnostic imaging, drug/gene delivery, regenerative medicine, cancer treatment and medical implants is reviewed. Finally, conclusions and future perspectives are provided.

Hepatocyte-targeted delivery using oleanolic acid-loaded liposomes for enhanced hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

“…12,34 With the improvement of targeted drug delivery systems, specific ligand-modified liposomes have been well-developed to improve drug retention in targeted tumors and reduce unexpected side effects. [35][36][37] However, some early strategies for liposome surface modifi-cation required the incorporation of multiple chemical agents, which was complex as well as raising biosafety concerns. [38][39][40] In this study, we proposed a hepatocyte-targeted liposome drug delivery system via a simple and efficient electrostatic adsorption strategy.…”

Nanoarchitectonics beyond perfect order – not quite perfect but quite useful

“…The development of smart drug-delivery systems for controlled drug-loading and manner of release has been an active area of research. 317,318 Many aspects are essential when considering the design of novel drug-delivery platforms, including drug dosage, loading efficacy, controllable release, side effects, and toxicity. Hierarchical self-assembled systems offer impressive advantages of tailorability and versatility, which are crucial for controlled and targeted drug release.…”

Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)—A Universal Material for Biomedicine

“…The use of different nanomaterials in biomedicine has become increasingly relevant in recent years, as they are used in different aspects, including diagnostics, therapy, and prevention of various diseases [1][2][3]. For a long time, polymers were used as carriers of drugs, in diagnostics, and other applications.…”